Some more goodies at the Brotherhood.

I'd arranged to meet friends for coffee, and they said if they weren't in the cafe, they'd be in the opshop nearby, and sure enough, that's where they were. I'd been in the same shop two days ago, but for a small shop they have a fast turnover, and there is always new stuff!
I found this really ugly blouse for $1, with pretty machine embroidered Xmas motifs on it.

When I got home, I cut out the motifs and cut off the buttons. The rest of the shirt is in hubby's rag bag.

Somebody had apparently been to the USA and bought a heap of souvenir cloth badges, but never got around to sewing them on to articles of clothing. I'll be cutting them up to embellish fabric postcards, ATCs, or other patchwork. 40 cents each.

I love anything with Peacocks, so I wasn't going to leave this little brass dish beind - 50 cents!

There was a basket full of laces for $1 a roll, so I grabbed these to share with a friend in the USA who loves laces. The lady at the counter said "Oh that lace has been going out the door today!" and I wondered what else I'd missed out on!

Frankston Opping

These finds are from a trip to Frankston in December, to take advantage of one of Saver's half price garment Mondays. There are enough op shops in the main shopping area to make a day trip a worthwhile exercise - I think I visited five, including Savers. Above are a jumper and cardigan which I intend to deconstruct for the yarn. You can't ever have too much yarn :)

The purple cardi has giant snaps down the front, which I'll also reclaim and repurpose. I'd priced snaps about this size in the haberdashery section a while back and they retail for at least $1 each, and I have six of them now. Both knits were two or three dollars each.

A large scarf featuring a gorgeous print of horses. I tried to convince the checkout operator that scarves are apparel, but apparently they're considered accessories and not included in the half price offer. Still a bargain at $3.95, I think. I may turn this one into a halter top, if I can bear to cut it.

A cowboy motif doona cover that I'll use as fabric. I couldn't resist the cute print. Enough here to make a shirt, a skirt and still have some left over. Can't remember the price exactly, but it was
about $5.
A gorgeous green caftan, for me to wear in the heat. Cool and comfortable now that I've altered it to my satisfaction: it was a little tight over the Rack of Doom, so I let it out at the side seams only to find that this rendered it rather shapeless in other areas. So I added a couple of waist ties to tie at the back and now I love it. $9 at Savers.

An "Eight Wives of Henry the VIII" tea towel, to be refashioned into a tote bag. $1.95.
(Edited: Obviously that was meant to be "Six Wives of Henry VIII" - I think Melbourne's hot and muggy spell has damaged my brain)

An Isle of Wight tea towel, also to be refashioned into a tote bag. Also $1.95. Both tea towels from Savers.

On the same trip, I also bought ten balls of black mohair yarn, at $1 a ball in St Vinnies, plus a
set of dominoes for $2 in another op shop (can't remember which, memory failure due to hot weather). Like I wrote earlier, can't have too much yarn! The dominoes are intended for a jewellery project I have in mind, and they came in a little wooden box that I'll use for something else. A good day.

Did anyone here go on the Opshop Tour?

I would love to read about it if you did. I'd love to go on a trip like that, but I really don't need to...I do my own opshop tours without any help, lol.
Popped into the local Brotherhood shop again today and found these goodies. It really is a neat little shop, they always seem to have new stuff coming in, and put it on the shelves within minutes of receiving and pricing it! They are just down the road from me; too close really....I can't resist dropping in when I walk by ;-)

This cotton hand embroidered cloth was 40 cents. I've got hundreds, but this is so beautifully stitched, I couldn't leave it behind for that price.


I fell in love with this enamel brooch for $4, thinking I would use it to embellish a crazy patchwork block, but when I got it home and had a closer look, I decided no, it's too good for that, so it's in my jewellery box.


Here is the brooch again, with a bead necklace for 50 cents. I would normally not have looked twice at that, but have a look at the top I was wearing today - perfect match!!

Lamp redo.

I visited my local Vinnies (Hoppers Crossing) and came home with  a lamp for which I paid a measly $3. I liked the shabby base but definitely not the shade (it doesn’t match the nursery!).


I’ve never attempted to change a shade before or really even considered it but I have been reading some blog posts which have totally inspired me. 

Before

After

Hope you like it!

http://www.vintagefokus.blogspot.com/

Splurging at Savers!

Yesterday, I took a box of unwanted stuff to Savers at Greensborough, and while I was there....2 hours later I'd spent nearly $50, and came home with these:

Aboriginal Art tablecloth for $9.99. Wish I'd found this before our Australia Day party!


I like to have a small bowl handy on the kitchen bench to pour sauces, whisk an egg, and other small jobs. I've had many - they get broken! So this will do nicely for $1.99.


Now this was a bargain - an Arcosteel saucepan with glass lid for $19.99! The last saucepan I had in this size was okay, but the handle was loose and couldn't be fixed. And it wasn't a good quality pan like this!


I've already got one of these Patchwork rules, but it is quite large, so this one which cost 99 cents, will be good for smaller projects.


I don't really need any more platters, but this Maxwell Williams platter ($4.99)matches the two (different sizes) that I already have in this design, so I'll get rid of some of my other platters that don't match anything.


Several people picked this up and looked at it, and put it down again, while I was thinking about it. It is a beautiful leather covered journal, completely unused - $2.99. I don't know what I'll do with it - anyone got some ideas?



This 'Lonely Planet' shoulder bag ($1.99) will be great for the days I only need to carry my wallet, keys and mobile. My larger bag that holds all the extra things that a girl has to have on a day out is too big for a quick trip to the supermarket, and I've been looking around for something like this.


As if I haven't got enough books on Cross Stitch and Calligraphy...but for a couple of dollars each, why not...




When I saw this teatowel for $1.49 I decided it would be perfect to cut up and use for making my Valentine fabric postcards!

$10 tickets for tomorrows Op shop Tour

$10 tickets to anyone who mentions this website at the door tomorrow. 9.30am at the old salvos store 69 Bourke St Melbourne. See you there, lots of great savings including fill a bag for $1. see you there!

Two additions to my wardrobe.

Popped into the Eltham Brotherhood shop yesterday, just to see what they had in stock since they reopened after the holidays. I'd been after a white handbag for ages, but couldn't find anything the right shape or size, until I saw this for $1.


I don't wear skirts very often, but I love the feel of something light and floaty around my legs on a hot day, instead of slacks, even if they are light cotton. This felt great when I tried it on - so comfortable! And only $3.